{"id":484,"date":"2026-05-19T05:33:57","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T05:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=484"},"modified":"2026-05-19T05:33:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T05:33:57","slug":"flagstaff-mom-accused-of-killing-toddler-keeping-his-body-in-freezer-for-weeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=484","title":{"rendered":"Flagstaff mom accused of killing toddler, keeping his body in freezer for weeks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 A Flagstaff mother is facing disturbing allegations that she abused her toddler to death and then put his body in a freezer before calling 911 Sunday morning.<\/p>\n

Read more Tucson Police investigating double shooting near 22nd, Harrison<\/a><\/p>\n

Just after 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Ochra Manakaja, 31, called 911 and said her 15-month-old was dead, according to court documents.<\/p>\n

When the dispatcher asked what happened, she said, \u201cI killed him,\u201d and hung up, court paperwork said.<\/p>\n

Warning: Details are graphic. Reader discretion is advised.<\/h3>\n

Flagstaff police responded to La Quinta Inn and Suites near Huntington Road and Bronco Way, just south of Interstate 40, where Manakaja was staying.<\/p>\n

Police said they found the toddler\u2019s body wrapped in a tote that was inside a clear plastic box. The body\u2019s temperature was about 26 degrees.<\/p>\n

Two other boys, ages 7 and 9, were not hurt and safely removed from the room. Manakaja was taken into custody.<\/p>\n

According to police, Manakaja told them she threw the toddler into his crib out of frustration on April 29 because he was crying and fussy. <\/p>\n

Court documents said that Manakaja told officers the boy\u2019s symptoms got worse. He started throwing up and not eating, and he looked weak and pale and was \u201cnot acting like himself,\u201d police said.<\/p>\n

The victim reportedly developed a fever on May 1, but Manakaja didn\u2019t take him to the hospital or call family members because she was afraid of getting into trouble, court documents said.<\/p>\n

When she checked on him while he was on the couch, he was lying face up with his eyes closed and was not breathing, police said. Manakaja reportedly tried to wake him with a cold rag, but it did not work.<\/p>\n

When police asked how the toddler died, Manakaja replied he likely choked after throwing up in the morning, when the two older boys had left for school, court documents said.<\/p>\n

Court documents said Manakaja remembered the day because she didn\u2019t want to leave but had to go take a drug test since she was on probation for DUI.<\/p>\n

After the drug test, she wrapped the boy in a blanket, covered him in plastic, taped him up and placed him in the freezer for two weeks.<\/p>\n

Police said Manakaja told her other sons that the toddler went to the hospital or was at the doctor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

According to court documents, Manakaja expressed remorse multiple times and said she \u201cf***ed\u201d up, adding the boy didn\u2019t deserve to die.<\/p>\n

Manakaja was booked into Coconino County Jail on charges of first-degree murder, child abuse and concealment of a deceased body. <\/p>\n

Her bond was set at $1 million, cash-only, and she was not allowed to contact her other sons.<\/p>\n

DCS confirms prior contact with family<\/h2>\n

The Department of Child Safety confirmed to Arizona\u2019s Family that they received one previous report involving Manakaja and her family in December 2024.<\/p>\n

The department said it got a court order to remove the child from the unsafe conditions.<\/p>\n

However, DCS said Manakaja\u2019s tribe claimed jurisdiction and assumed custody of the child.<\/p>\n

Read more Woman killed crossing Loop 303 near Waddell; DPS seeks truck<\/a><\/p>\n

The department says that can happen when a Native American child is involved. In those cases, both the state and the child\u2019s tribe may have authority, and the tribe can request to take over the case at any time.<\/p>\n

When that happened, DCS said the state caseworkers are no longer involved.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Department extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by the tragic death of a one-year-old child. Our thoughts are with the child\u2019s loved ones and community during this difficult time,\u201d DCS said in an emailed statement. <\/p>\n

Criminal history<\/h2>\n

Court documents show Manakaja has a criminal history spanning several years, including disorderly conduct, assault allegations and criminal damage cases. She has convictions in 2023 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and DUI.<\/p>\n

Forensic psychologist John De La Torre said several factors stand out in the case.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust looking at her history, there seems to be an indication of either some underlying severe pathology, meaning like bipolar disorder or something like that,\u201d De La Torre said.<\/p>\n

De La Torre said substance abuse and untreated mental illness can intensify emotional instability, especially when someone is isolated or struggling financially.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt already suggests that there is something really going on with her that she\u2019s really struggling with and maybe doesn\u2019t have any help any family or friends or anything like that, any outside sources that she can kind of lean on. It seems like she kind of maybe does things by herself,\u201d De La Torre said.<\/p>\n

Resources for struggling parents<\/h2>\n

Heather Berner, executive director of the Arizona Safe Baby Haven Foundation, said isolation is common in these situations.<\/p>\n

According to court records, Manakaja said she didn\u2019t work or have any family or friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost people really find themselves in a situation where they feel very alone,\u201d Berner said. \u201cI wish before these things would happen that people would reach out for help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Berner spends her time trying to get the word out about resources to protect babies from situations like this one.<\/p>\n

Under the Safe Haven Law in Arizona, a parent can surrender their baby under 30 days old to any on-duty fire station, hospital and certain churches and adoption agencies.<\/p>\n

There are options for older children, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will find safe options for you,\u201d Berner said. \u201cPlease don\u2019t hurt your child.\u201d<\/p>\n

Berner urged any struggling parent to call their crisis hotline. A counselor will help connect them to resources, including temporary placement and adoption.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tool is connection,\u201d Berner said. \u201cAnd so, if we can connect those dots for people, that\u2019s where the magic happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Arizona Safe Baby Haven Foundation\u2019s 24\/7 Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1-866-707-2229. To contact Childhelp\u2019s 24\/7 hotline, click here or call or text 800-422-2253.<\/p>\n

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? <\/i>Please click here to report it<\/i>.<\/i><\/p>\n

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send <\/i>it to us here<\/i> with a brief description.<\/i><\/p>\n

Read more Rep. Adelita Grijalva claims DACA recipient detained in Tucson<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A mother is behind bars after police said she admitted to killing her 15-month-old son and storing his body in a freezer for weeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"\nFlagstaff mom accused of killing toddler, keeping his body in freezer for weeks - Tucson Moving Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=484\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Flagstaff mom accused of killing toddler, keeping his body in freezer for weeks - 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